President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inauguration Friday of the new Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital (SKPH) in the town of Isulan as he rallied public support so that the nation could overcome the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Let us continue working together to overcome the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and build a stronger and healthier — for our future,” President Duterte said during the inauguration rites and unveiling of marker for the facility.

The President made an assurance during his address that his administration remains committed in supporting local governments, including in effectively implementing the provisions of the Universal Health Care.

The President expects the new hospital to boost the healthcare capacity of Sultan Kudarat, allowing it to serve beyond its borders and care for patients from the neighboring localities.

“Therefore, I urge all of you to maximize the services and the state-of-the-art equipment that have been made available and accessible to you through this new hospital,” he said.

“More importantly, have confidence and trust in our competent and compassionate healthcare workers and medical staff who always give their best to take care of our well-being.”

He congratulated the provincial government and its partners for working hard to make the new medical facility a reality. He vowed to provide SKPH with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to enhance its diagnostic capability.

Situated in a 3.3-hectare area, the new Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital is a four-storey medical building with a total bed capacity of 399.

It features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, aimed at providing quality and affordable medical services to the citizens of Sultan Kudarat and nearby provinces especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. PND